Enoch c



' (No Model.)

E. G. BOWLING.

' GARMENT STAY.

Patented Feb. 21, 1888 f ww /g n FETEIIS, WWI-Malay wmmmmc.

to the open seam of which they are attached by stitchingthrough thefabricstitching-edges on dotted line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a per-UNITED STATES I ATENT OFFI E. I

ENOOH o. BOWLING, or YP'SILANTI, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF" TOHENRY P. GLOVER, or SAME PLACE.

GARM ENT-STAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 378,080, dated February21, 1888.

Application filed August 18, 1887.

To aZZ whom/it may concern:

Be it known that I, ENooH O. BOWLING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment-Stays; andIdo declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters and figuresof reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to garmentstays, particularly to the constructionof parts and means employed for securing the metallic end caps to theends of the flexible blade, said caps being provided with an imperviouscoating, which cements said caps to the blade and to the outer textilecovering fabrics.

The object of my present improvement is to more securely cover the endsof the stiffening-blade by providing said ends with metal caps orcovers, which are U-shaped and concavo-convex in cross-section, beingadapted to receive in the concave the square ends of thestifi'eningblades, thus forming rounded ends to the blade, avoiding thesharp corners thereof, and preventing the ends of the stiffening-bladesfrom working through the coverings of the stay and puncturing thegarment,

formed along the edges of the stay,which will be hereinafter more fullyset forth.

To more readily comprehend the merits of my invention, reference shouldbe had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is anisometrical view of a number of stays in sheet form, which are to beseparated, as indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is aview of same havingthe covering fabrics and sheets of gutta-percha tissue turned back atone end to show position of parts prior to sealing. Fig. 3 is anisometrical view of a single stay as it appears when completed. Fig. 4is an enlarged vertical longitudinal section taken spective of the metalcap or cover.

Serial No. 247,265. (No model.)

In the drawings, Fig. 1, B B represent the outer covering fabrics of'the stiffening-blade, and Z Z theinterposed sheets of gutta-perchatissue. a shows the pinked or scalloped edges of the coverings, and fthestitching-edges formed along the edges of the stay by the projection ofthe gutta-percha tissue and outer covering fabrics.

In Fig. 2, D represents the steel'or stiffening-blades, and E the metalcaps or covers on the ends of the stiffening-blades.

spun or pressed in the shape of a U, and con cavo-convexincross-section,as shown in Fig. 5.

The concave K of each cap or cover is adapted to receive the square endsof the stiffeningblade, being secured thereon by pressing down onto thebody of the bladesD, to

' sheets the blades are placed thereon at a slight distance apart. Thesheet of gutta-percha tissue Z and covering fabric B are then placedover the series of blades, and by applying a heated plate or iron to theupper face of the sheet of goods the interposed sheets of guttapercha'tissue, by the heat, become soft or meltedand adhere to the stiffeningblades and covering fabrics, thus uniting the parts together and formingan impervious coating around the stiffening-blades and metal caps, whichwill prevent moisture or perspiration from the body of the wearer fromcoming in contact with the steel blades, which otherwise would causethem to rust.

Said caps are formed from a single piece of metal, being I am aware thatmetallic end caps secured to the ends of stifiening-blades for corsetsand stays have long been in use, and there fore do not claim, broadly,such matter; but

I am not aware that stlffeningblades having such metallic end caps haveheretofore been secured within'a covering of fabric having interposedlayers of gutta-percha tissue, with a marginal or fabric stitching-edgesurrounding said protected blade and metallic end caps, whereby saidblades and metallic end caps are provided with an impervious coatinghaving an outer textile covering, the gutta-percha tissue'cementing theend caps firmly to the ends of the blade and within the textile fabriccoverings, whereby said metallic parts are prevented from rusting orcorroding, the metallic end caps being cemented within the fabrics,-thereby preventing said caps from pulling off the blade, as is commonwhen attached in the ordinary way to the exterior of the stay, by simplypressing said caps onto the ends of the stay.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 30 presence of twowitnesses.

ENOGH C. BOWLING.

Witnesses:

J. WVILLARD BABBITT, FLORENCE S. BABBITT.

